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Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, responds to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's new deal for general practice

Responding to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt's new deal for general practice, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chair of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said: 

"This is a positive step and local authorities will be eager to work with the new arrangements and additional capacity in these vital community services.

"However, we have long warned that investing in the NHS whilst social care budgets are under continual pressure is simply a false economy.

"It is social care services that support elderly and vulnerable people to maintain their independence, live in their own community and stay out of hospital longer which is why investing in social care is crucial not only for supporting people's wellbeing and independence but also for alleviating the pressures on the health service."

The Secretary of State's announcement included details on increasing the primary care workforce by at least 10,000 including around 5,000 more GPs, targeting under-doctored areas and improving surgery infrastructure.